A. Hurricane Frances- Hurricane warning remains in effect for the East Coast of Florida from Florida City northward to Flagler Beach...including Lake Okeechobee. A hurricane warning remains in effect for Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimimi, and the Berry Islands. At 8:00 p.m. the large eye of the hurricane was located about 50 miles east northeast of Palm Beach, Florida. Frances has been drifting slowly west-northwestward near 5 mph. Maximum sustained winds remain near 105 mph. Some strengthening is possible before landfall.

Florida State Emergency Response Team reports (7:30) that approximately 30 counties have issued some type of evacuation (mandatory or volunterary). There are 331 regular shelters in operation with 72,119 persons, and 63 special needs shelters with 4,952 persons. Flooding is expected from rain fall to be 8 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts being expected.

C. IPHC Item- Conference DRUSA Coordinators are encouraged to (a) identify and be ready to dispatch disaster relief teams when the request is made- and, (b) also to begin coordination for possible requests for food and other supplies that are requested.More on this in following messages.(c) There should be a Conference Disaster Relief Committee established to monitor the four support areas of Evangelism, Women's Ministries, Men's Ministries and Royal Rangers.

This staff has the task to support the Conference Superintendent during a conference disaster.

Read:

1. DRUSA Manual, Chapter 5-on the mobilization of the Conference Disaster Relief Committee.

2. DRUSA Encl-5-6, Local Church Disaster Preparation List.

D. Tropical Storm Ivan-Gradually becoming stronger- at 5:00 p.m. the center of Ivan was 1450 miles east southeast of the Lesser Antilles. Winds are at 60 mph and movement is at toward the west at 20 mph.

End of Report,

jack kelley

DRUSA